The World Endurance Championship has launched a brand new system designed to scale back the benefit of lighter drivers within the collection.
What is called compensation ballast will likely be utilized to automobiles throughout the Hypercar and LMGT3 lessons from this week’s 2025 season-opener in Qatar.
Its introduction, which has been beneath dialogue since final 12 months, follows criticism that the efficiency benefit loved by lighter drivers was not mitigated in any approach.
A so-called reference weight of 82kg has been set beneath the brand new guidelines, which diverge barely for qualifying and the race.
In qualifying, each the opening session and Hyperpole, a driver weighing beneath stated determine in full racewear, with the HANS machine and seat insert included, should carry ballast.
For the race, a mean weight for the driving crew, each three and two driver line-ups, will likely be calculated and if beneath 82kg, ballast must be carried contained in the automotive in a delegated place.
It successfully reintroduces a rule in place within the LMP1 class from 2015 when there was a reference weight of 80kg.
#51 Ferrari AF Corse Ferrari 499P: Alessandro Pier Guidi, James Calado, Antonio Giovinazzi
Photograph by: JEP / Motorsport Pictures
The transfer has been welcomed throughout the WEC paddock within the Hypercar class.
Ferrari driver James Calado, who revealed final 12 months that he had been hospitalised in his efforts to reduce weight, advised Motorsport.com: “That is positively the appropriate factor to do – it’s only proper {that a} world championship has a rule like this.
“If you’re freely giving 15-20kg or much more, that’s lots of lap time. It means a heavier driver like me can have the possibility to qualify the automotive, which wasn’t actually the case earlier than.”
Marco Sorensen, who has progressed to the Hypercar ranks with Aston Martin for 2025, expressed an analogous view.
“It positively ranges the taking part in subject, which must be a great factor,” he stated. “We’ve seen prior to now that the drivers chosen to qualify have been those who’re on the small facet. This must be appropriate for a high-profile championship.”
Sebastien Bourdais, who has joined the WEC full time with Jota-Cadillac this 12 months, was additionally supportive. However he identified that heavier drivers in a line-up will nonetheless be deprived beneath the brand new rule.
“The rule is completely legit for qualifying, however the heavier guys are nonetheless going to be giving one thing away to the lightest man within the crew through the races,” he defined.
“That’s a tough drawback to unravel in endurance racing, however it is a step in the appropriate path.”
The FIA and the Car Membership de l’Ouest, which collectively write the principles for the WEC, have additionally revealed the brand new success handicap system in LMGT3, which replaces the earlier success ballast launched in GTE Am in 2019.
Reasonably than 15, 10 and 5kg being utilized to the highest three finishers in school, a proportion discount in lap time will likely be utilized to the automotive’s Stability of Efficiency with revisions to a automotive’s minimal weight and/or most energy on the discretion of the FIA and ACO.
The discount will likely be 0.24% for a win, 0.16% for a runner-up end and 0.08% for third.
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